Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Pendarvis and Sandy claim strong primary victories in race for vacant state House seat

Sandy and Pendarvis earn major wins

Republican and Democratic candidates vying to represent state House District 113 gained definitive victories in Tuesday’s special primary election.

Candidate Theron Sandy claimed the GOP nomination, earning almost 73 percent of the vote, with 166 votes cast for the attorney and small-business owner in Charleston County and 12 votes coming from Dorchester County to earn Sandy the victory over Republican opponent Rouzy Vafaie, according to unofficial results.

Facing two opponents for the Democratic nomination, Marvin Pendarvis claimed the victory over Charleston County School Board member Chris Collins and business strategist (and former CP contributor) Angela Hanyak. Among the three Democrats, Pendarvis won almost 80 percent of the vote, with Hanyak earning 12 percent and Collins with just over 8 percent.

The District 113 seat was left vacant last month after former state Rep. Seth Whipper stepped down from the post to serve as a Charleston County magistrate judge. The North Charleston Democrat had been with the House since 1995 and served as chairman of the Charleston County delegation in the Statehouse.

Sandy and Pendarvis will now square off for Whipper’s vacant House seat in a special election on Nov. 7.